Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo and Ossola Valleys – unique winter experiences in Piedmont

In the 13th century, the village of Arona had a castle - its remains are preserved on the Rocca Borromeo. The area was turned into a green park, which offers extraordinary views of the lake, the town, the Pre-Alps and the Lombard shore with the mighty castle of Angera. San Carlo Borromeo was born in the Rocca fortress’ chamber called “the three lakes” where he enjoyed the stunning views of the lakeside.

The main attraction, however, is the statue of San Carlo Borromeo, completed in 1698 at the behest of Cardinal Federico Borromeo. The “Sancarlone,” which represents the figure of Carlo Borromeo, a personality from Arona who became increasingly famous over the centuries, can also be admired from the lake. Giovan Battista Crespi, known as “il Cerano,” designed the colossus, which is made of several hammered copper plates. The 23 metres-high statue rests on an 11 metres-high granite base with a total height of 35 metres. This makes it the second tallest statue in the world after the Statue of Liberty in New York. Climb the inside of the statue and admire the panoramic view stretching in front of you!

Lively Intra is the main port of the Navigazione Lake Maggiore, characterised by the daily ferry service with car shuttle to Laveno on the Lombard shore; it offers various shopping opportunities like the traditional Saturday market. The historical centre is a picturesque collection of alleys, small courtyards and squares that wind their way from the lake to the great Basilica of San Vittore.

Equally picturesque is the small and youthful Suna, with its characteristic lake promenade, the amazing view of the Borromean Gulf and the places for an aperitif or a romantic candlelight dinner.

The medieval village of Orta, nestled on a peninsula in the enchanted mirror of Lake Orta, is a well-known tourist centre where you can immerse yourself in history thanks to the many testimonies of the past: decorated palaces, baroque churches, towers, squares and cobbled streets. Villa Motta, dating back to the 19th century, is a private residence famous for its flower gardens, which can be visited in summer.

Along the central street is Casa Bossi, today the Town Hall, which offers a beautiful public garden below playfully designed small balconies and wrought-iron gates. Through a succession of shops, small taverns and picturesque lodgings, you will be led to Piazza Motta: the "living room" of the town, which houses the Palazzo della Comunità (1582), the porticoes of the fishermen and the landing stage for the island of San Giulio.

Along the Salita della Motta you can stroll among the oldest manor houses dating from the 14th-18th century to the parish church of the Assunta (1485). Behind the centre, along Via Fava, you can admire Villa Crespi (1888), a large Moorish-style residence that has now become a prestigious hotel.

The Sacred Mount of Orta is a monumental complex dedicated to Saint Francis, located on the top of a hill behind the city centre. In the 16th century, at the behest of S. Carlo Borromeo and then of the Bishop of Novara Carlo Bascapè, the Fabbrica was created to oppose the Protestant Reformation on the other side of the Alps. The work was completed much later, in the 18th century. 21 chapels, arranged in the chronological order of the life of the “Poverello d'Assisi,” follow one another along a spiral path.

Today's visitors, ‘pilgrims’ in former times, walk to a place of moral renewal while remaining enchanted by the beauty of the frescoes and terracotta statues that decorate the chapels. The high religious and artistic value is combined with the naturalistic value of the special nature reserve: between one chapel and another you can see hornbeams, beeches and tall oaks circling the area. In 2003, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. From the square of the medieval church SS. Nicolao and Francesco, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the lake.

Santa Maria Maggiore, the pretty capital of the valley with its beautiful historic centre, is home to the Chimney Sweep Museum and the Rossetti Valentini School of Fine Arts. The two professions are symbolic of the valley's past: The chimney sweep, who was trained hard since childhood when he emigrated to Italy and abroad in the company of his master, and the painter, who was able to depict his native mountain landscapes and make them known beyond the borders of the country. The Pineta around Santa Maria is a quiet place where you can enjoy relaxing walks with your whole family.

The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sangue di Re, located at the eastern end of the Vigezzo Valley, dates back to a miraculous event that took place in 1494. It is made up of two buildings, one from the 17th and the other from the 20th century, made entirely of granite and integrated into a dome with four towers.

The exciting itinerary between Domodossola and Locarno in Switzerland (Canton Ticino) is connected by the picturesque Vigezzina-Centovalli train. The route runs through the Vigezzo Valley and the small wild valleys already on Swiss territory, through forests, pretty villages and gentle plateaus. In Ossola, it is a symbol of slowness, making the journey the main attraction – when autumn brings the golden season, this route gets even more magical.